The Premium Processing Service for H-1B petitions began on July 30, 2001. For an additional fee of $1,800, USCIS will approve the petition, deny the petition, or make a request for additional evidence within 15 calendar days. USCIS will refund the $1800 fee if it does not adjudicate a case within the required 15 calendar days.

• Impact of H-1B Cap

Early in every fiscal year, the USCIS receives sufficient H-1B petitions to reach that fiscal year's 65,000 visa cap. Therefore, Premium Processing Service will not help expedite H-1B petitions if they were filed after this cap is reached. Such petitions will be rejected by the USCIS like other regular H-1B petitions filed after the cut-off date.

• 15-day calendar period

Premium processing begins on the day the USCIS physically receives a petition or application and ends the day that the Service issues a notice or request. If the USCIS does not issue a notice or request within 15 calendar days, the Premium Processing Service fee will be refunded, but the case will continue to be handled. If a given application or petition is not eligible for the Premium Processing Service, the fee will be refunded and the case will be processed under regular circumstances.

• Form I-907 and $1000 Fee

A completed Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, may be filed with a new application or petition, or filed for a pending application or petition. The fee for the Premium Processing Service is $1000, which must be paid with a separate check. It is set by law and cannot be waived for any reason. Again, the fee will be refunded if a notice or request is not issued within the 15 calendar days, or the program cannot be utilized because of the H-1B cap or is otherwise suspended.

• Upgrade to Premium Processing Service

You may upgrade your H-1B case to Premium Processing Service. If the I-907 form is filed after the petition or application is filed, the 15-day period will begin to run when the USCIS receives the I-907 form. When submitting a Form I-907 after a related petition, a copy of the receipt notice (Form I-797) must be included.

For more information on H-1B Visa, please refer to the following topics:

• Description
• Requirements
• Process
• Benefits
• Limitations
• Documents
• Premium Processing
• H-1B Extension beyond 6 year limit
• H-1B Dependent Employer
• H-1B Cap, Its Usage, and Other Issues
• USCIS Clarifies Exemptions to the H-1B Cap
• H-4 Visa
• H-1B Status in I-485 Pending Period
• New Guidance on H-1B for Nurses
• Services that We Provide
• Frequently Asked Questions about H-1B
• Advanced Issues on H-1B
• Filing Fees
• Attorney’s Fees
• Be Aware of Abandonment of COS and AOS Applications
• The Issues Related to I-140/I-485 Filing for H-1B Holders
• The Issues Related to F-1 Visa